Hi everybody, I'm trying to fade 4 red marks left from pimples on my chin. If I don't use anything, they will remain on my face forever (I know from past experience)

I get these marks from pimples that have pus in them. I don't touch them or pick at them, still they leave marks.

I went to 2 doctors. One suggested Tretinoin 0.025%. But I read reviews here and people has said that it causes an initial breakout. I don't think an initial breakout is worth it for just 4 marks. So I gave up.

The other derm recommended Ystheal cream (http://www.aveneusa.com/ystheal-cream/) This has Retinaldehyde as an active ingredient. But I read on the internet that retinaldehyde also causes initial breakouts.

An option I want to try from reviews here is a glycolic acid cream. I have a cream with 6% glycolic acid. Even a 12% glycolic acid cream can easily be bought without a prescription in India for cheap.

So my questions:

1. Will Tretinoin cause initial break out even if I use it as a spot treatment?

2. Will Retinaldehyde cause initial break out even if I use it as a spot treatment?

3. Has anyone used Glycolic acid successfully to fade red marks/ PIH? What concentration? How long will it take?

10% glycolic acid helped fade my marks (unless it was just time...) and it doesn't cause an initial breakout. You can do peels as well with 30% or 50% that may speed up the process. I think it helped me but again it could be time. 10% lotion is a good safe bet e.g. Dan's aha or Alpha Hydrox Enhanced lotion. I'm afraid even with this it took a year for my red marks to disappear, but they were much less prominent by 6 months...

Tretinoin made me break out really badly. I had to stop using it because it was creating so many more marks... I know it works for some people though. I haven't tried retinaldehyde but I think it's like a weaker version of tretinoin?

10% glycolic acid helped fade my marks (unless it was just time...) and it doesn't cause an initial breakout. You can do peels as well with 30% or 50% that may speed up the process. I think it helped me but again it could be time. 10% lotion is a good safe bet e.g. Dan's aha or Alpha Hydrox Enhanced lotion. I'm afraid even with this it took a year for my red marks to disappear, but they were much less prominent by 6 months...

Tretinoin made me break out really badly. I had to stop using it because it was creating so many more marks... I know it works for some people though. I haven't tried retinaldehyde but I think it's like a weaker version of tretinoin?

Thanks Flaxen! Did you use Tretinoin as a spot treatment just on the red marks or all over the face?

I have two options available in India- Glycolic acid 6% and Glycolic acid 12%. Which do you recommend? It must be used only during the nights right? Did you use it every day or on alternate days? Also, did you wait for 20 min till the skin was absolutely dry before applying Glycolic acid? I've attached a picture of my chin so you can make out the severity of my condition. How long do you think this will take to fade?

Attached Files

Your skin looks great! I don't think it will take long for those marks to fade, I'd guess six months tops. I understand why you want to fade them but don't stress too much I think it is best just to use it at night. Some people use it in the morning with a high spf but for four small marks I wouldn't take the added risk of sun damage especially if you're somewhere hot. I think 6 or 12% would be fine, depends how gentle you want to go. Some might suggest 6 then graduate to 12 if it's not too much of an expense. Although, I'm also guessing you have pigmented skin if you're from India. I'm as pale can be so I don't really know much about it but I think glycolic acid can increase your chance of hyperpigmentation if you have pigmented skin so you might want to stick with 6% especally as your marks are small.

I used tretinoin all over my face rather than as a spot treatment. I suspect you wouldn't have trouble with it as a spot treatment mainly because your skin is so clear! - The initial breakout happens because all the spots that are forming come to the surface at once but you probably don't have any forming... I was trying the tretinoin when my skin was at it's absolute worse. When my skin was better a different topical retinoid didn't have the same effect. So I think tretinoin would be fine for you, but you can't use it with glycolic acid so you have to choose! I'm afraid I don't know which is better for this purpose. (I would be interested to know!)

Edit: Just want to add, maybe tretinoin would be better... My marks seem to have faded quite alot after just a week on epiduo which contains adapalene which is another topical retinoid. Also wanted to add that the reason I haven't broken out from it could be because it also contains bp and I started an antibiotic at the same time but I still don't think it would break you out because your skin is so clear. I think there was something else but I've forgotten!

Your skin looks great! I don't think it will take long for those marks to fade, I'd guess six months tops. I understand why you want to fade them but don't stress too much I think it is best just to use it at night. Some people use it in the morning with a high spf but for four small marks I wouldn't take the added risk of sun damage especially if you're somewhere hot. I think 6 or 12% would be fine, depends how gentle you want to go. Some might suggest 6 then graduate to 12 if it's not too much of an expense. Although, I'm also guessing you have pigmented skin if you're from India. I'm as pale can be so I don't really know much about it but I think glycolic acid can increase your chance of hyperpigmentation if you have pigmented skin so you might want to stick with 6% especally as your marks are small.

I used tretinoin all over my face rather than as a spot treatment. I suspect you wouldn't have trouble with it as a spot treatment mainly because your skin is so clear! - The initial breakout happens because all the spots that are forming come to the surface at once but you probably don't have any forming... I was trying the tretinoin when my skin was at it's absolute worse. When my skin was better a different topical retinoid didn't have the same effect. So I think tretinoin would be fine for you, but you can't use it with glycolic acid so you have to choose! I'm afraid I don't know which is better for this purpose. (I would be interested to know!)

Edit: Just want to add, maybe tretinoin would be better... My marks seem to have faded quite alot after just a week on epiduo which contains adapalene which is another topical retinoid. Also wanted to add that the reason I haven't broken out from it could be because it also contains bp and I started an antibiotic at the same time but I still don't think it would break you out because your skin is so clear. I think there was something else but I've forgotten!

Thanks for replying! I'm from India but my skin is very fair. However, I admit it is nothing close to Caucasian skin so yes, I understand your concern.

Actually my main concern does remain just the fading of these spots, you'll know if you look at my other two posts. I'm considering Tretinoin too after what you have suggested. My derm told me I could get rid of the marks in 5 weeks if I used this daily. But suspicion got the better of me, especially after reading about the dreaded initial breakouts on the forums here. That prompted me to post. In fact, I've read that somebody managed to get an initial breakout after using it for spot applications (How is that? Your explanation causing the IB makes perfect sense!)

You think adapalene by itself can help with the fading? I've got a cream (Adapalene and Clindamycin) and will consider using that as well.

Hi everybody, I'm trying to fade 4 red marks left from pimples on my chin. If I don't use anything, they will remain on my face forever (I know from past experience)

I get these marks from pimples that have pus in them. I don't touch them or pick at them, still they leave marks.

I went to 2 doctors. One suggested Tretinoin 0.025%. But I read reviews here and people has said that it causes an initial breakout. I don't think an initial breakout is worth it for just 4 marks. So I gave up.

The other derm recommended Ystheal cream (http://www.aveneusa.com/ystheal-cream/) This has Retinaldehyde as an active ingredient. But I read on the internet that retinaldehyde also causes initial breakouts.

An option I want to try from reviews here is a glycolic acid cream. I have a cream with 6% glycolic acid. Even a 12% glycolic acid cream can easily be bought without a prescription in India for cheap.

So my questions:

1. Will Tretinoin cause initial break out even if I use it as a spot treatment?

2. Will Retinaldehyde cause initial break out even if I use it as a spot treatment?

3. Has anyone used Glycolic acid successfully to fade red marks/ PIH? What concentration? How long will it take?

Please do reply. I'm looking forward to hear from you all.

I have never had a breakout problem with tretinoin. If I get spots, it usually makes them go away much faster. But it never prevents acne so new ones just come out even though you are using it on your whole face.

I haven't used Retinaldehyde so I will just give you my thoughts on Glycolic acid. I love the stuff! I use a 10% gel and I mix it in with my moisturizer and it speeds up the lightening process.

Hi everybody, I'm trying to fade 4 red marks left from pimples on my chin. If I don't use anything, they will remain on my face forever (I know from past experience)

I get these marks from pimples that have pus in them. I don't touch them or pick at them, still they leave marks.

I went to 2 doctors. One suggested Tretinoin 0.025%. But I read reviews here and people has said that it causes an initial breakout. I don't think an initial breakout is worth it for just 4 marks. So I gave up.

The other derm recommended Ystheal cream (http://www.aveneusa.com/ystheal-cream/) This has Retinaldehyde as an active ingredient. But I read on the internet that retinaldehyde also causes initial breakouts.

An option I want to try from reviews here is a glycolic acid cream. I have a cream with 6% glycolic acid. Even a 12% glycolic acid cream can easily be bought without a prescription in India for cheap.

So my questions:

1. Will Tretinoin cause initial break out even if I use it as a spot treatment?

2. Will Retinaldehyde cause initial break out even if I use it as a spot treatment?

3. Has anyone used Glycolic acid successfully to fade red marks/ PIH? What concentration? How long will it take?

Please do reply. I'm looking forward to hear from you all.

I have never had a breakout problem with tretinoin. If I get spots, it usually makes them go away much faster. But it never prevents acne so new ones just come out even though you are using it on your whole face.

I haven't used Retinaldehyde so I will just give you my thoughts on Glycolic acid. I love the stuff! I use a 10% gel and I mix it in with my moisturizer and it speeds up the lightening process.

Hi everybody, I'm trying to fade 4 red marks left from pimples on my chin. If I don't use anything, they will remain on my face forever (I know from past experience)

I get these marks from pimples that have pus in them. I don't touch them or pick at them, still they leave marks.

I went to 2 doctors. One suggested Tretinoin 0.025%. But I read reviews here and people has said that it causes an initial breakout. I don't think an initial breakout is worth it for just 4 marks. So I gave up.

The other derm recommended Ystheal cream (http://www.aveneusa.com/ystheal-cream/) This has Retinaldehyde as an active ingredient. But I read on the internet that retinaldehyde also causes initial breakouts.

An option I want to try from reviews here is a glycolic acid cream. I have a cream with 6% glycolic acid. Even a 12% glycolic acid cream can easily be bought without a prescription in India for cheap.

So my questions:

1. Will Tretinoin cause initial break out even if I use it as a spot treatment?

2. Will Retinaldehyde cause initial break out even if I use it as a spot treatment?

3. Has anyone used Glycolic acid successfully to fade red marks/ PIH? What concentration? How long will it take?

Please do reply. I'm looking forward to hear from you all.

I have never had a breakout problem with tretinoin. If I get spots, it usually makes them go away much faster. But it never prevents acne so new ones just come out even though you are using it on your whole face.

I haven't used Retinaldehyde so I will just give you my thoughts on Glycolic acid. I love the stuff! I use a 10% gel and I mix it in with my moisturizer and it speeds up the lightening process.

Hi everybody, I'm trying to fade 4 red marks left from pimples on my chin. If I don't use anything, they will remain on my face forever (I know from past experience)

I get these marks from pimples that have pus in them. I don't touch them or pick at them, still they leave marks.

I went to 2 doctors. One suggested Tretinoin 0.025%. But I read reviews here and people has said that it causes an initial breakout. I don't think an initial breakout is worth it for just 4 marks. So I gave up.

The other derm recommended Ystheal cream (http://www.aveneusa.com/ystheal-cream/) This has Retinaldehyde as an active ingredient. But I read on the internet that retinaldehyde also causes initial breakouts.

An option I want to try from reviews here is a glycolic acid cream. I have a cream with 6% glycolic acid. Even a 12% glycolic acid cream can easily be bought without a prescription in India for cheap.

So my questions:

1. Will Tretinoin cause initial break out even if I use it as a spot treatment?

2. Will Retinaldehyde cause initial break out even if I use it as a spot treatment?

3. Has anyone used Glycolic acid successfully to fade red marks/ PIH? What concentration? How long will it take?

Please do reply. I'm looking forward to hear from you all.

I have never had a breakout problem with tretinoin. If I get spots, it usually makes them go away much faster. But it never prevents acne so new ones just come out even though you are using it on your whole face.

I haven't used Retinaldehyde so I will just give you my thoughts on Glycolic acid. I love the stuff! I use a 10% gel and I mix it in with my moisturizer and it speeds up the lightening process.

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Hi everybody, I'm trying to fade 4 red marks left from pimples on my chin. If I don't use anything, they will remain on my face forever (I know from past experience)

I get these marks from pimples that have pus in them. I don't touch them or pick at them, still they leave marks.

I went to 2 doctors. One suggested Tretinoin 0.025%. But I read reviews here and people has said that it causes an initial breakout. I don't think an initial breakout is worth it for just 4 marks. So I gave up.

The other derm recommended Ystheal cream (http://www.aveneusa.com/ystheal-cream/) This has Retinaldehyde as an active ingredient. But I read on the internet that retinaldehyde also causes initial breakouts.

An option I want to try from reviews here is a glycolic acid cream. I have a cream with 6% glycolic acid. Even a 12% glycolic acid cream can easily be bought without a prescription in India for cheap.

So my questions:

1. Will Tretinoin cause initial break out even if I use it as a spot treatment?

2. Will Retinaldehyde cause initial break out even if I use it as a spot treatment?

3. Has anyone used Glycolic acid successfully to fade red marks/ PIH? What concentration? How long will it take?

Please do reply. I'm looking forward to hear from you all.

I have never had a breakout problem with tretinoin. If I get spots, it usually makes them go away much faster. But it never prevents acne so new ones just come out even though you are using it on your whole face.

I haven't used Retinaldehyde so I will just give you my thoughts on Glycolic acid. I love the stuff! I use a 10% gel and I mix it in with my moisturizer and it speeds up the lightening process.

So which one do you recommend? Glycolic acid or Tretinoin?

I personally would go with glycolic acid. It can also act as a moisturizer for I love it for that purpose as well.

but i think glycolic peel(of decent %,not crazy high %) is a safest bet.

u dont want to harm ur skin any further considering u already have a GOOD skin girl.

dont mess with it.

Thanks! I've sent you a message about salicylic acid but here goes. Salicylic acid is a BHA and it is supposed to help with PIH too. Have you noticed any difference? Please give me the name of the facewash you use. Is it gentle for sensitive skin like mine? Are you aware of any creams/gels containing salicyclic acid?